Barbell plate with apertures for use in lifting the plate

ABSTRACT

A Barbell plate has a round configuration and has a central aperture and at least one aperture along the periphery thereof. The portion of the plate near its periphery has substantially less thickness than the central portion thereof, this end result being achieved by tapering the outer portion of the plate in the direction of the periphery. The aperture or apertures near the periphery are preferably elongated to facilitate fitting one or possibly two fingers in this aperture or apertures with another finger in the central aperture or an opposite peripheral aperture, in lifting the plate.

[0001] This Application is a continuation in part of application No.09/687/354 filed Oct. 13, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to barbell plates and more particularly to such a plate having apertures formed therein for enabling lifting of the plate.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Barbell plates, particularly as their weight increases, are difficult for the user to pick up. In an attempt to remedy this situation, prior art barbell plates have been designed with apertures in the peripheral and central portions thereof. Such a device is described, for example in Pat. No. Des 355,007 issued Jan. 31, 1995 to Rojas, and Pat. No. Des. 394,685 to Eckmann. Where the plates are heavier and necessarily thicker and where such plates are covered with plastic or latex material, as is often the case, the overall thicknesses of such plate makes it difficult for many users with average size or smaller fingers to properly grasp the plates through the apertures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The device of the present invention is an improvement over the prior art in that it facilitates the grasping of barbell plates though apertures formed in such plates. This end result is achieved by providing apertures in the central and peripheral portions of the plate and forming the plate so that it is substantially thinner along the peripheral portion than the central portion with the plate being tapered between the central portion and the peripheral portion. This allows the users fingers to be comfortably fitted between the central and peripheral apertures.

[0007] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved barbell plate which can more readily be grasped for lifting.

[0008] It is a further object of this invention to facilitate the grasping and lifting of a barbell plate.

[0009] Other objects of the invention will become apparent in view of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane indicated by 3-3 in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the first embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the second embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane indicated by 7-7 in FIG. 5;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the third embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane indicated by 11-11 in FIG. 9;

[0021]FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the third embodiment;

[0022]FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0023]FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the fourth embodiment;

[0024]FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane indicated by 15-15 in FIG. 13;

[0025]FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of the fourth embodiment;

[0026]FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of the invention;

[0027]FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the fifth embodiment;

[0028]FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane indicated by 19-19 in FIG. 17;

[0029]FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of the fifth embodiment;

[0030]FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of a sixth embodiment of the invention;

[0031]FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the sixth embodiment;

[0032]FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane indicated by 23-23 in FIG. 21;

[0033]FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of the sixth embodiment; and

[0034]FIGS. 25 and 26 are cress-sectional and front perspective views, respectively of a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a first embodiment of the device of the invention is shown. The barbell plate has a central portion 11 which has a round aperture 12 formed at the center thereof. The peripheral portion 14 of the plate has a pair of opposing elongated apertures 15 formed therein. A rim 19 is formed around the periphery of the plate.

[0036] Running between the central and peripheral portions of the barbell plate is a tapered portion 16 which tapers inwardly towards the peripheral portion so that the peripheral portion is of substantially less thickness than the central portion. The entire barbell plate is coated with a rubberized coating 17 which may be of a rubber or plastic material, this coating providing friction and protection for the walls of the plate.

[0037] Thus, when the user inserts one finger into the central hole 12 of the plate a second finger can readily be inserted into one of the apertures 15 to grab the barbell plate.

[0038] The second-sixth embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5-24 are similar in structure and operation to the first embodiment, the only difference being that different numbers of peripheral apertures 15 are employed. The use of additional apertures can be utilized to variously lighten the plate to make for different weights.

[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 25 and 26, a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment has the same basic structure and operational characteristics as the previous embodiment except that the holes 15 are round rather than elongated.

[0040] While the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is intended by way of illustration and example only, the coverage of the patent being limited only by the terms of the following claims. 

I claim: 1- In a circular barbell plate has a central portion and a peripheral portion having an outer edge, a single aperture formed in the central portion, and at least one aperture formed in the peripheral portion, the improvement comprising: a tapered portion running between the central and peripheral portions, said tapered portion tapering inwardly towards the peripheral portion so that the peripheral portion has a substantially lesser thickness than the central portion; and A raised rim running around the outer edge of said peripheral portion. 2- The device of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of round apertures formed in said peripheral portion. 3- The device of claim 1 wherein said barbell is covered with a rubberized coating. 4- The device of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of elongated apertures formed in said peripheral portion. 5- A method for forming a barbell plate from a circular plate member comprising the steps of: Forming a round aperture in the central portion of said plate member; Forming at least one aperture in the peripheral portion of said plate member, said peripheral portion having an outer edge; and forming a tapered portion of said plate member between the central and peripheral portions thereof, said plate member being tapered inwardly towards the peripheral plate member portion, whereby said plate member is substantially thinner at the peripheral portion than the central portion thereof; and Forming a raised rim running around the outer edge of the peripheral portion of the plate. 6- The method of claim 5 wherein the aperture formed is elongated. 7- The method of claim 5 and additionally including the step of placing a rubberized coating on the surfaces of the plate. 